Locomotive fire-kindling apparatus



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J. MONAUGH'I ON. LOGOMOTIVE FIRE KINDLING APPARATUS.

No. 515,009. Patented Feb. 20, 1894.

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J. M QNAUGHTONL LOGOMOTIVE FIRE KINDLING APPARATUS.

No. 515,009. Patented Feb. 20, 1894.

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J. MGNAUGHTON.

LOGOMOTIVB FIRE KINDLING APPARATUS Patented Feb Fl as,

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JAMES MONAUGHTON, OF WAUKESHA, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR TO JOHN S.

LESLIE, OF PATERSON, NEW JERSEY.

LOCOMOTIVE FIRE-KINDLING APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 515,009, dated February20, 1894.

Application filed September 14, 1893. Serial No. 485,491- (N m em To allwhom it may concern.-

Be it known that [,1 JAMES MCNAUGHTON,

of Waukesha, in the county of Waukesha and State of Wisconsin, haveinvented a certain new and useful Improvement in Locomotive FireKindlingApparatus, of which improvement the following is a specification.

My invention relates to fluid distribution apparatus for kindlinglocomotive engine fires, of the general class or typeset forth inLetters Patent of the United States, Nos. 495,904: and 503,739, grantedand issued to me under dates of April 18, 1893, and November 14, 1893,respectively.

The object of my invention is to provide other and further effective anddesirable means for the delivery of liquid fuel and air under pressureto any desired point in asystem of distribution piping, for kindling afire in a locomotive engine firebox, and the automatic return of surplusor unused liquid fuel to a reservoir, the system being of suchstructural and operative character, that no liquid fluid needbe storedin or remain in the distribution piping, duringthe intervals betweentheoperations of the apparatus.

The improvement claimed is hereinafter fully set forth.

In the accompanying drawings: Figurel is a view, in perspective, of anapparatus for' kindling locomotive engine fires, illustrating anapplication of myinvention; Fig. 2, a vertical transverse sectionthrough the same, showing its application in kindling a fire in alocomotive engine; Fig. 3, a section taken through a portion of alocomotive engine house, showing, in side elevation, a modified form ofthe apparatus; Fig. 4, a view, in perspective, showing a furthermodified form; Fig. 5, a vertical section, on an enlarged scale, throughthe valvular appliance which con trolsapplication and release of fluidpressure to and from the fuel reservoir; Fig. 6, a similarsectionthrough one of the release cocks and one of the service reservoirs shownin Fig. 4; and Fig. 7, a similar section through a release cock, when inposition for charging a service reservoir.

In the practice of my invention I provide a main or fuel supplyreservoir 1, for the reception of the" liquid fuel,such as crudepetroleum or other fuel oil, which is to be used for kindling, saidreservoir being of any desired capacity and being located in, orconveniently adjacent to an engine house, in which locomotives arehoused during intervals between trips as for example, set in a pit orcellar or in a suitable fire-proof casing near the engine house. Liquidfuel from the main reservoir 1, is conveyed, by fluid pressure to. and,together with air under pressure, is delivered at, different desiredpoints in the engine house, by a system of distribution piping, theconstruction and operation of which will now be described.

Referring first to Figs. 1, 2 and 3, a supply pressure pipe 6 leads fromany suitable source of fluid pressure, as a reservoir of fluid underpressure, or an air compressor, 6, and passes along the engine house,above the several engine stalls and pits, being suspended at aconvenient heightabove the floor. The supply pressure-pipe 6 isprovided, adjacent to each stall, with an air delivery pipe 17, thedischarge end of which is fitted with a coupling or other suitableconnection, 25, for a flexible hose, and is controlled by a cock orvalve 18. The supply pressure pipe 6 isalso connected, bya branch pipe6*, with a suit able differential pressure valvular appliance 34, whichis, in turn, connected, by a pipe 8,

with the main fuel reservoir 1, 'above the level of the fluid therein.pliance 34 may be of any suitable construction adapted for automaticallycontrolling the application of fluid pressure. to, and the release ofpressure from, the liquid fuel in the main reservoir 1, so as to effectthe discharge of liquid fuel therefrom and admit of its antomatic returnthereto, respectively, and the drawings show the valvular appliance 34in the preferred form of a plain triple valve, of similar constructionto, and operating similarly to, the plain triple valves employed in thestandard Westinghouse automatic air brake system.-

The specific valvular appliance 34E selected The valvular apforillustration, not being, in and of itself,

claimed as of my inventiomand its construction and manner of operationbeing well known to those familiar with the management and use oflocomotive engines,it need not,

except as to its operative relation to other members of the apparatus,beherein atlength described.

The valvular appliance 34 is connected, by a pipe 35, with an auxiliarypressure reservoir 35, and is connected, as before stated, by a pipe 8,with the main fuel reservoir 1, above the level of the fluid therein.The slide valve 34, of the valvular appliance 34, in the position whichit occupies when the apparatus is not in operation in kindlinga lireestablishes an open communication between the main fuel reservoir 1 andthe atmosphere, through the pipe 8 and the exhaust port of the appliance34. Communication is also established between the supply pressure pipe 6and the auxiliary pressure reservoir 35, through the piston chamber ofthe valvularappliance and a small charging groove which extends past thepiston thereof when at the upper end of its stroke. In the positionoccupied while a fireis being kindled, the piston of the valvularappliance 34 closes communication between the supply pressure pipe 6 andreser voir 35, and the slide valve 34 closes communication between thereservoir 1 and the atmosphere, and opens communication between saidreservoir and the auxiliary pressure reservoir 35, through the pipe 35,the appliance 34, and the pipe 8, the change of position of the piston34, and slide valve 34", of the appliance, being effected by increaseand by reduction respectively, of pressure in the supply pressure pipe6, as in an automatic air brake apparatus.

A fuel service pipe 2, leads out of the lower portion of the main fuelreservoir 1, and extends along the engine house, and fuel delivery pipes15 lead from the fuel service pipe 2 adjacent to the several stalls,said delivery pipes having their discharge ends fitted with couplings orother suitable connections 29, for flexible hose, and being controlledby cocks or valves 16. As shown in Fig. 1, the fuel service pipe 2 issuspended above the floor, adjacent to the supply pressure pipe 6, butin order to reduce, as far as practicable, the quantity of oil requiredto be within the engine house at any time, during the operation of theapparatus, and the number of joints at which leakage may be possible,the alternative arrangement shown in Fig. 3, may be adopted. In suchcase the fuel service pipe 2 is laid underground, and the fuel deliverypipes 15 extend vertically therefrom to points at a proper distanceabove the door level adjacent to the several stalls of the engine house.

Fig. 4 illustrates a modified form of the apparatus in which the supplypressure pipe (5, main fuel reservoir 1, valvular appliance 34,auxiliary pressure reservoir 35, and fuel service pipe 2, are combinedand operate as in the instance first described, but in this case,delivery of liquid fuel is made from either of a series of servicereservoirs 3, each of such capacity as to contain a supply sufficientfor kindling a single fire, as in Letters Patent N 0. 495,904 aforesaid,instead of from the fuel service pipe 2 as first described. Moreover,the several service reservoirs 3, instead of being and remaining chargedwith liquid fuel during the intervals between the operations of kindlingfires, as in said Letters Patent, are in this case, normally empty, andany determined reservoir of the series, from which it is desired todeliver a proper supply of liquid fuel for kindling a single fire, isfirst charged therewith, by fluid pressure, and the charge thereafterdelivered or discharged from the service reservoir by gravity, thesurplus in the pipe 2 being also returned to the main fuel reservoir bygravity.

Each of the service reservoirs 3, is connected at top, by a pipe 3, withthe fuel service pipe 2, and a fuel delivery pipe 15, leads from itslower end, the discharge end of said pipe being provided with a couplingor other suitable hose connection 29, and being controlled by a valve16. A valve casing or chest 31 is interposed between each of the servicereservoirs 3 and the fuel service pipe 2, being connected, at top andbottom, to sections of the pipe 3, and communication between the pipe 2and reservoir 3, through the valve casing 3l,is opened and closed asrequired,byafeed valve 32, controlling a port 36, in a partition in saidvalve casing. The valve 32 hasa piston 37, formed upon or fixed to itslower side, said piston working in a chamber 38, which communicates, bya pipe 30, with the supply pressure pipe 6. The pipe 30 is controlled bya release cock 26, of the three way type, which, in one position, as inFig. 6, closes communication between the chamber 38 and supply pressurepipe 6, and in another, as in Fig. 7, opens communication between saidchamber and pipe, and also between the pipe 6 and a release port 28, ofsmaller diameter than said pipe, and leading therefrom to theatmosphere.

In the operation of the apparatus, as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, themain reservoir 1 having been charged with the fuel oil which is to beused, a suitable quantity of coal, in practice about four hundredpounds, is placed upon the grate of the engine in which a fire is to bekindled. Flexible hose sections, 21 and 22, are coupled, respectively,to the fuel delivery pipe 15 and the air delivery pipe 17, adjacent tothe engine, and are connected, at their opposite ends, to a pipe 23,having, upon its outer end, a burner or mixer 24, of any suitable andpreferred construction, which is passed into the firebox of the engineand placed adjacent to the coal therein. The valve 18 (which in thiscase acts as a release cock, and obviates the necessity for a separateor special release cock) is then opened, thereby effecting a reductionof pressure in the supply pressure pipe 6, and on the lower side of thepiston 34 of the valvular appliance 34, which piston will consequentlybe by the then automatically moved downward IIO higher pressure in theauxiliary pressure reservoir 35, carrying with it the slide valve 34 ofthe valvular appliance; which closes communicationbetween the main fuelreservoir 1 and the atmosphere, and opens communication between saidreservoir 1 and the auxiliary pressure reservoir 35. The pressure insaid auxiliary pressure reservoir, acting upon the liquidfuelin thereservoir 1, forces it therefrom, through the fuel service pipe 2 andfuel delivery pipe 17, and out at the opening of the burner or mixer 24,air under pressure being coincidently delivered to the burner from thesupply pressure pipe 6, through the flexible hose 22. A spray of mingledfuel oil and air is thereby forced out of the opening of the burner ormixer 24, and, being ignited, its flame is projected downwardly upon thecoal in the firebox of the engine. The combustion atthe burner openingsis continued for about ten minutes or less, after which the fire will befound to be fully ignited, and the burner or mixer can be withdrawn'fromthe firebox.

After the fire has been kindled, the valves 16 and 18 of the fuel andair delivery pipes, are closed, the closure of the valve 18 restoring.the air pressure in the supply pressure pipe to its normal degree. Thepiston 34 of the valvular appliance 34, is thereupon automatically'moved upward by the then greater pressure below it, carrying with it theslide valve 34", which then closes communication between the auxiliarypressure reservoir 35 and the main fuel reservoir 1, and openscommunication between -the reservoir 1 and the atmosphere. The pressureon theliquid fuel in the reservoir 1 being thereby released, the surplusliquid in the fuel service pipe 2,and

fuel delivery pipe 15 drains back, by gravity,

to the reservoir, thus completely freeing the system of piping in theengine house from liquid fuel, untiljt is desired to kindle anotherfire. The hose sections 21 and 22 with the attached burner 24,are'disconnected and removed, in readiness for use in the next kindlingoperation that may be desired.

The operation of the modified form of t.h e apparatus shownin Figs. 4,6, and 7, 1s similar to that above described, except as to the chargingand the discharge of the service reservoirs, as will now be explained.The firebox of the engine having been charged with coal, and the hosesections "1 and 22 coupled to the fuel delivery pipe 15, and airdelivery pipe 17, adjacent to the engine, the operator turns the releasecock 26 into the position shown in Fig. 7, thereby exhausting sufficientair from the supply pressure pipe 6 to reduce the pressuretherein belowthatin the auxiliary pressure reservoir 35, whereupon the valvularappliance 34 automatically operates, as before described, to closecommunication between the main fuel reservoir 1 and the atmosphere, andto open communication between said reservoir 1 and the auxiliarypressure reservoir 35. The pressure-in said auxiliarypressure reservoir,then acting upon the liquid fuel in the reservoir 1, forces it therefromthrough the fuel service pipe 2, and pipe 3, into the valve casing 31 ofthe feed valve 32 which communicates with the release cook 26 that hasbeen actuated. Ooincidently with the opening of communication betweenthe fuel reservoir 1 and the auxiliary pressure reservoir 35, the feedvalve 32 will be raised from its seat, and will open the port 36, by theback pressure in the chamber 38, acting on its piston 37 ,"such backpressure being due to the small diameter of the release port 28relativelyto the pipe 6, and will be held unseated to charge the servicereservoir, so long as the release cock is kept in the position shownFig. 7. As

soon as the service reservoiris charged, the

release cook 26 is turned into the position shown in Fig. 6, whereuponthe valve 32 is immediately seated, cutting ofi communica tion betweenthe fuel service pipe 2 and the service reservoir 3. The pressure in thesupply pressure pipe 6 is coincidently restored to its normal degree,and the valvular appliance 34 automatically operates, as beforedescribed, to close communication between the auxiliary pressurereservoir 35 and the main fuel reservoir1,and to opencommunicationbeween said reservoirl andthe atmosphere. The pressure onthe liquid fuel in the reservoir 1 being thereby released, the surplusliquid in the fuel service pipe 2 drains back, by gravity, to thereservoir. The valves 16 and 18, of the fuel and air delivery pipes,being opened, the liquid fuel in the reservoir is disa is forced, by thepressure in the pipe 6, out of the burner, and being ignited, its flameis projected downwardly upon the coal in the firebox of the engine. Uponthe exhaustion of the supply of fuel from the service reservoir 3, thefire will be found to be fully ignited, and the burner is withdrawn fromthe firebox, the cooks 16 and 18 closed, and the hose sections andburner disconnected and removed for use at another stall when required.

Whilelhave illustrated, as a preferable construction, a system in whichpressure 'for discharging fiuid fuel from the main fuel reservoir isadmitted thereto from an auxiliary pressure reservoir, it will beobvious that such auxiliary pressure reservoir is not an essential of myinvention, and a construction in which discharging pressure isadmitteddirectly to the main fuel reservoirfrom the supply pressure pipe orothersuitable source piping, in which, by variations of fluid pressureeflected at or near any desired location of delivery, liquid fuel isautomatically supplied to a burner adjacent to such location, and theautomatic and complete return of any surplus liquid fuel to a storagereservoir is effected at the conclusion of each operation of the system.

I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent-- 1. Thecombination, in a fluid distribution apparatus for kindling locomotiveengine fires, of a main fuel reservoir, a fuel service pipe leadingtherefrom, a supply pressure pipe leading from a source of fluidpressure supply to the fuel reservoir, and means for openingcommunication between the main fuel reservoir and a source of fluidpressure, in and by a reduction of pressurein the supply pressure pipe,substantially as set forth.

2. The combination in a fluid distribution apparatus for kindlinglocomotive engine fires, of a main fuel reservoir, a fuel service pipeleading therefrom, a supply pressure pipe leading from a source of fluidpressure supply to the fuel reservoir, and a differential pressuredevice interposed between the supply pressure pipe and main fuelreservoir, which automatically effects the discharge of fluid from saidmain fuel reservoir into and through the fuel service pipe, in and bythe reduction of pressure in the supply pressure pipe, substantially asset forth.

3. The combination, in a fluid distribution apparatus for kindlinglocomotive engine fires, of a main fuel reservoir, a fuel service pipeleading therefrom, a supply pressure pipe leading from a source of fluidpressure supply to the fuel reservoir, and a diflerential pressuredevice, interposed between the supply pressure pipe and main fuelreservoir, which automatically effects the discharge of fluid from saidmain fuel reservoir into and through the fuel service pipe, and thereturn of fluid from said pipe to said reservoir, in and by thereduction and the restoration, respectively, of pressure in the supplypressure pipe, substantially as set forth.

4. The combination, in a fluid distribution apparatus for kindlinglocomotive engine fires, of a main fuel reservoir, a supply pressurepipe leading thereto from a source of fluid pressure supply, a valvularappliance interposed between the supply pressure pipe and fuel reservoirand controlling the application and release of fluid pressure to andfrom the interior of the fuel reservoir, by variations of pressure inthe supply pressure pipe, a fuel service pipe leading from the fuelreservoir, a delivery connection for discharge from the fuel servicepipe, and a release cook or valve controlling an opening for dischargefrom the supply pressure pipe, substantially as set forth.

5. The combination, in a fluid distribution apparatus for kindlinglocomotive engine fires, of a main fuel reservoir, a supply pressurepipe leading thereto from a source of fluid pressure supply, a valvularappliance interposed between the supply pressure pipe and fuel reservoirand controlling the application and release of fluid pressure to andfrom the interior of the fuel reservoir by variations of pressure in thesupply pressure pipe, a fuel service pipe leading from the fuelreservoir, a series of valved delivery connections for discharge fromthe fuel service pipe at any one of a series of points in its length,and a series of release cocks or valves, each controlling an opening fordischarge from the supply pressure pipe adjacent to one of the deliveryconnections of the fluid service pipe, substantially as set forth.

6. The combination, in a fluid distribution apparatus for kindlinglocomotive engine fires, of a main fuel reservoir a supply pressure pipeleadingtheretofromasource of fluid pressure supply, an auxiliarypressure reservoir, a valvular appliance, as a triple valve, controllingcommunication between the supply pressure pipe and auxiliary pressurereservoir, between the auxiliary pressure reservoir and the main fuelreservoir, and between the main fuel reservoir and the atmosphere, afuel service pipe leading from the fuel reservoir, a delivery connectionfor discharge from the fuel service pipe, and a relief cook or valve,which controls an opening through which fluid under pressure may bedischarged from the supply pressure pipe to automatically actuate thevalvular appliance in direction to impart pressure to the fluid in themain fuel reservoir, and by the closure of which pressure is restored inthe supply pressure pipe to automatically actuate the valvular appliancein direction to release pressure from the fluid in the main fuelreservoir, substantially as set forth.

7. The combination, ina fluid distribution apparatus for kindlinglocomotive engine fires, of a main fuel reservoir, a fuel service pipeleading therefrom, a supply pressure pipe, leading from a source offluid pressure supply to the main fuel reservoir, a service fuelreservoir, means for simultaneously opening communication between thefuel service pipe and the service fuel reservoir, and between the mainfuel reservoir and the source of fluid pressure and a deliveryconnection leading from the service fuel reservoir, substantially as setforth.

8. The combination, in a fluid distribution apparatus for kindlinglocomotive engine fires, of a main fuel reservoir, a fuel service pipeleading therefrom, a supply pressure pipe, leading from a source offluid pressure supply to the main fuel reservoir,a valve device forcontrolling the supply of fluid from the source of fluid pressure supplyto the main fuel reservoir and also to a valve device for openingcommunication from the fuel service pipe to a service fuel reservoir anda delivery connection leading from the service fuel reservoir,substantially as set forth.

apparatus, for kindling locomotive engine fires, of a main fuelreservoir, a fuel service pipe leading therefrom, a supply pressure pipeleading from a source of fluid pressure supply to the main fuelreservoir, a service fuel reservoir a delivery connection leadingtherefrom, a valve controlled communication between the fuel servicepipeand service fuel reservoir, and a valvular appliance, interposedbetween the supply pressure pipe and main fuel reservoir, whichautomatically effects the discharge of fluid from said main fuelreservoir intoand through the fuel service pipe, and the coincidentopening of communication between said fuel service pipe and the servicefuel reservoir, in and by a reduction of pressure in the supply pressurepipe, and which closes communication between the fuel service pipe andservice fuel reservoir, and coincidently effects the return of fluidfrom the fuel service pipe to the main fuel reservoir, in and by arestoration of pressure in the supply pressure'pipe, substantially asset forth. I

i 10. The combination, in a fluid distribution apparatus for kindlinglocomotive engine fires, of a main fuel reservoir, asupply pressure pipeleading from a source of fluid pressure supplyto the main fuelreservoir, a valvular appliance controlling the application and releaseof fluid pressure to and from the interior of the fuel reservoir,by'variations of pressure in the main supply pressure pipe, a fuelservice pipe leading from the fuel reservoir, a delivery connectionleading therefrom a service fuel reservoir, a feed valve controllingcommunication between the fuel service pipe and service fuel reservoir,and a'release cock which coincidently controls a discharge passage fromthe'supply pressure pipe, for'reducing and restoring, respectively, thepressure therein, and a passage through which, while open, pressure fromsaid pipe effects and maintains the unseating of the feed valve,substantially as set forth.

11. The combination,in a fluid distribution apparatus for kindlinglocomotive engine fires, of a main fuel reservoir, a supply pressurepipe leading from a source of fluid pressure supply to the main fuelreservoir, a valvular'appliance controlling the application and releaseof fluid pressure to and from the interior of the main fuel reservoir byvariations of pressure in the supply pressure pipe, afuel service pipeleading from the fuel reservoir, a delivery connection leadingtherefrom, a service fuel reservoir, a feed valve controllingcommunication between the fuel service pipe and service fuel reservoir,and a release cock which coincidently controls communication between thesupply pressure pipe, and the atmosphere, and between the supplypressure pipe and a pressure device for unseating the feed valve,substantially as set forth.

12. The combination, in a fluid distribution apparatus for kindlinglocomotive engine fires, of a main fuel reservoir, a supply pressurepipe leading from a source of fluid pressure supply to the main fuelreservoir, a valvular appliance controlling the application and releaseof fluid pressure to and from the interior of the main fuel reservoir byvariations of pressure in the supply pressure pipe, a fuel service pipeleading from the fuel reservoir, a series of service fuel reservoirsconnected to the fuel service pipe at different points in its length,and each provided with a valved delivery connection, a series of feedvalves, each controlling communication between the fuel service pipe andone of the service fuel reservoirs, and a series of release cocks,eachlocated adjacent to one of the fuel service reservoirs andcoincidently controlling communication between the supply pressure pipeand the atmosphere, 'and'between the supply pressure pipe and a pressuredevice for unseating the feed valve of the adjacent service reservoir,substantially as set forth.

13. The combination, in afluid distribution Witnesses:

O. W. BooTH, F. K. INoNE,

